- On a recent Saturday evening at the Cosmic Cafe here, young Thais with pixie haircuts and ornate shoulder tattoos chatted in groups, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of smartphones. Although the space was packed, the energy level lagged compared with Bubble Bar next door, which boomed with the latest hip-hop and techno tracks. But the crowd surged to its feet when the DJ began playing 1970s-era luk thung and mor lam , Thai musical genres closely associated with hardscrabble life in the country's poor, rural northeast.

NEW DELHI — Child welfare officials filed suit Friday against a couple whose 13-year-old domestic worker was found locked in their house for several days without food while the family reportedly vacationed in Bangkok, an incident that raised questions here about the values of India's expanding middle class. The alleged mistreatment was even more shocking to many because the husband-and-wife employers were both doctors. The girl, who was not identified, told local television reporters her food ran out soon after the family left on an extended holiday.

Americans are being advised to avoid traveling to Bangkok and other areas of central and northern Thailand, where unusually heavy monsoons since mid-July have caused deadly floods. "Severe flooding has hampered transportation and limited access to some essential services in the affected regions," says a U.S. State Department travel alert issued Thursday. The alert singled out Bangkok as well as the provinces of Sukhothai, Pichit, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Singhburi, Angthong, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Lopburi, Sara Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Pracheen Buri, Chacherngsao, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Kamphang Peth, and Tak. It also noted popular tourist destinations Phuket and Chiang Mai have been unaffected by the floods.

Authorities suspended all flights from one of Bangkok's two main airports after flood waters breached its northern perimeter, news agencies reported Tuesday. The suspension was imposed at Don Muang airport, used mainly for domestic flights. The facility is located in northern Bangkok, the area of the capital most severely affected by the worst flooding that Thailand has seen in decades. The BBC reported that the landing strip was expected to remain closed for a week. Photos: Thailand floods The Suvarnabhumi Airport in eastern Bangkok, which handles most international traffic, was reported to be still operating.

Thailand, reeling from its worst flooding in decades, received more bad news Saturday as the death toll from three months of downpours rose to 356 and the prime minister warned that the inundation could last six more weeks. In a high-risk maneuver this weekend, authorities are trying to channel floodwaters through the canals of Bangkok and out to sea from the deluged central plains. The capital has already seen waist-high water in its northern neighborhoods, with many fearing that the heart of downtown could be next if the diversion fails.

Travel the length of Thailand, from the country's capital, Bangkok, to Chiang Rai in the north, on a 14-day tour for prices starting at $1,599 per person. Book by Wednesday for the lowest price. The deal: The Incredible Thailand tour from Friendly Planet Travel includes Los Angeles-Bangkok round-trip airfare, hotels, some meals and more. At $1,599 per person, it prices out to less than $150 a day. The trip includes stops in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Ayutthaya, Bangkok and other cities along the way to see rice fields and villages with monkeys and elephants.

As the head of Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission, Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala is one of the country's most powerful policy makers. But his true passion isn't GDP growth or inflation rates. He's co-author of an English-language book of prophecies called "Know Your Future," which uses the Thai zodiac to predict, among other things, an al Qaeda terrorist attack in 2014 and an Obama reelection victory in 2012. A major government figure dabbling in astrology would raise eyebrows in many countries (think former First Lady Nancy Reagan )

November 17, 2010 | By Paul Richter and John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times

The extradition of alleged Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout from Thailand to the United States on Tuesday drew sharp protests from Russian officials, who insist the so-called merchant of death is an innocent businessman. Bout, a former Soviet air force officer who reportedly maintains strong ties to Russian intelligence, had been put aboard a chartered plane under tight security in Bangkok and arrived in suburban New York in manacles late Tuesday. He faces four federal terrorism charges, U.S. officials said.

THAILAND Natural and man-made landmarks On Friendly Planet Travel's "A Taste of Thailand," travelers journey along Bangkok's waterways and visit many of the country's highlights, including the Bridge at the River Kwai, ornate palaces, massive Buddhas and UNESCO World Heritage sites. The itinerary provides ample leisure time for independent exploration and to partake in optional add-on experiences that include bathing elephants or sunbathing in Phuket. Itinerary: Bangkok to Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, the River Kwai and back to Bangkok Dates: Multiple nine-day departures offered between Nov. 22 and April 25 Price: Starting at $1,499, double occupancy (single supplement $199)